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Our Mission Statement

The Central Minnesota Music School is a not-for-profit, 501 (c) (3) community school of the arts that enriches the region’s cultural environment by providing exceptional performing arts education and performance opportunities for students of all ages and abilities.

Support the Central Minnesota Music School

You can play an important role in supporting the successful artistic and educational programs of the Central Minnesota Music School. CMMS could not operate without your generous donations that also serve as the impetus for many of our scholarships, special programs and future growth. We know that consistent annual giving of all those who treasure the excellent performing arts education provided by CMMS will remain paramount to our existence. Supporting CMMS demonstrates your commitment to our mission to help our students develop the discipline, artistry, and excellence to succeed in an ever-changing world. Please join us in securing this mission by providing support in one of the following areas:

Individual Donations – We rely on individual donations to support and maintain our operational costs in providing exceptional performing arts education - enhancing the lives not only of the students that attend our programs but the surrounding community.
Scholarships – Give a gift that lasts a lifetime! Every year, we are asked to provide more and more financial aid scholarships to deserving families. These scholarships are based strictly on financial need. We believe that every child should be able to reap the benefits of a performing arts education. Limited school budgets usually mean cuts in the art departments. Research has proven that school success is vastly improved for those children given a strong arts education.
Capital Improvement and Expansion – We have been providing exceptional performing arts education for over 28 years. Our facilities and equipment are feeling the effects of our successful past. You can be a part of continuing our legacy by donating to this fund to ensure our future by keeping us on the cutting edge of technology and promoting our expansion into other markets.
Matching Gifts – Many companies throughout the region, both large and small, generously match an employee’s donation to a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization like CMMS. If your gift is eligible for a match, please request a matching gift form from your employer’s Human Resources Department, complete your portion, sign and send it with your gift to the address listed below. We’ll take care of the rest. United Way allows you to direct your contribution to the charity of your choice. If you choose to give through this organization, please consider checking the box and indicating CMMS as your charity of choice.

Please Mail Your Contributions to:

Resources

The Gravi DVD

Price: $39.95

Most recently a highlight of the 2007 National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy in Chicago, Dr. Paul Wirth's presentation on piano technique is now spreading across the country as piano teachers finally have an effective method of making piano playing easy and understandable for their students.

With 26 years of experience teaching young artists at the pre-college level, Dr. Paul Wirth first explains, and then demonstrates the teaching of his successful "Gravity Based Piano Technique."

Clearly, and in great detail, his step-by-step method of teaching students the art of piano technique is revealed in this 90 minute DVD. Joined by 8-year old student Serena Lu, the joy of teaching is evident throughout the teaching demonstration, as advanced concepts - "the most technically freeing skills any pianist can learn" - are applied to the pre-college age group. This is a "must view" for any teacher of advancing young piano students!

"After seeing your last presentation, the technical ideas, and the ways you motivate your students re-energized my teaching. My students are playing more freely and with better dynamic control, and it has been exciting for us all! Thank you so much for your insight and willingness to share it with others...."

--Nancy Bachus, Pianist, Teacher, Editor and author of the Alfred "Spirit" Series

"Paul Wirth’s exceptional results with his students are well documented by their outstanding achievements in competitions, auditions, solo recitals, and orchestral appearances. At the 2007 National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, Dr. Wirth’s two presentations of gravity-based technique brought enthusiastic response from the audience. This GRAVI-DVD was made primarily in preparation for those presentations. Dr. Wirth’s logical approach and his well-articulated explanations render these concepts easily understandable and most helpful to all piano teachers. The examples of student performances are highly impressive."

--Marvin Blickenstaff
President of the Board
The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy

"I just can't be complimentary enough about it. It's lucid as can be, it's convincing, it's beautifully constructed, there isn't one wasted word, and the demonstrations all along the way are just excellent .... Paul Wirth is masterful, and the perfect person to be putting this pedagogy down into a concrete form. I also think that someone can actually learn to do this method by watching the DVD. I never thought that it would be possible without a lot of close, careful, personal training - but the Gravi-DVD is so clear and logical and appealing, that I've changed my mind."

--Hans Boepple
Pianist/Teacher of Young Artists
Santa Clara University, CA

Scales & Fingerings by: Dr. Paul Wirth

By: Dr. Paul Wirth

By: Dr. Paul Wirth

Important Links

Many of you have asked for listings that you may go to online for various piano or music needs. We hope our IMPORTANT LINKS page will assist. Check back often as we will change items or add new ones as the year goes by.